Important events in the whole world from 2000 until 2012

The world celebrates the turn of the millenium

Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and 3rd millennium. According to the Gregorian calendar, this distinction falls to the year 2001, because the 1st century was retroactively said to start with year AD 1.

Jul 25, 2000

Concorde crashes in france

Air France Flight 4590 was a Concorde flight from Charles de Gaulle International Airport near Paris, France, travelling to JFK International Airport in New York City.

Jan 20, 2001

George Bush is sworn in as the 43rd President of the United States

Over an eight year period, Bush's once-high approval ratings steadily declined throughout his Presidency, while his disapproval numbers increased significantly over the same time frame.

Sep 11, 2001

WTC buildings collapse

Both towers - two of the tallest in the world at the time - collapsed within two hours, destroying nearby buildings and heavily damaging others. 2,973 victims and the 19 hijackers died as a result of the attacks. The overwhelming majority of casualties were civilians, including nationals of over 90 countries.

Jun 4, 2002

The dwarf planet Quaoar is discovered

Quaoar is a binary, trans-Neptunian object and dwarf planet. It was discovered on 4th June 2002 by astronomers at the California Institute of Technology. It orbits at 43 astronomical units (6.4×109 km; 4.0×109 mi) from the Sun, with an orbital period of 286 years. It has a single tiny moon called Weywot.

Oct 12, 2002

The deadliest act of terrorism in the history of Indonesia

The 2002 Bali bombings occurred on 12 October 2002 in the tourist district of Kuta on the Indonesian island of Bali. The attack was the deadliest act of terrorism in the history of Indonesia, killing 202 people, 152 of whom were foreign nationals (including 88 Australians), and 38 Indonesian citizens. A further 240 people were injured.

Mar 20, 2003

The invasion of Iraq

The invasion of Iraq was led by the United States, alongside the United Kingdom and smaller contingents from other countries. The initial invasion phase lasted from 20th March to 1st May and involved troops from the US (248,000), UK (45,000), Australia (2,000) and Poland (194). 36 other countries were involved in its aftermath.

Oct 15, 2003

China launches its first manned space mission

On 15th October 2003, China successfully placed its manned "Shenzhou 5" spacecraft into orbit. This followed four previous missions, of which three were unmanned and one carried animals. The capsule carried a single astronaut, Yang Liwei. It was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert, using a Long March 2F rocket booster.

Nov 2, 2004

George W. Bush is re-elected

The US presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator from Massachusetts. Foreign policy was the dominant theme throughout the election campaign, particularly Bush's conduct of the War on Terrorism and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Dec 26, 2004

Indian Ocean earthquake leaves 230,000 dead

The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea megathrust earthquake that occurred on 26th December 2004, with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia.
Caused by subduction, it triggered a series of devastating tsunamis along coasts bordering the Indian Ocean, inundating towns and cities with waves up to 30 meters (100 feet) high. Nearly 230,000 people in fourteen countries were killed and 1.7 million displaced. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history.

Jul 7, 2005

Suicide bombers in London kill 56 people, injure 700 others

The 7 July 2005 London bombings, also known as 7/7, were a series of coordinated suicide attacks on London's public transport system during the morning rush hour. The bombings were carried out by four British Muslim men, three of Pakistani and one of Jamaican descent.

Aug 23, 2005

Hurricane Katrina floods New Orleans

Hurricane Katrina, of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, was the costliest hurricane - as well as one of the five deadliest, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was sixth strongest overall.
Hurricane Katrina formed over the Bahamas on August 23, 2005 and crossed southern Florida as a moderate Category 1 hurricane, causing some deaths and flooding there before strengthening rapidly in the Gulf of Mexico. The storm weakened before making its second landfal

Aug 24, 2006

Pluto is demoted to "dwarf planet" status

On 24th August 2006 the International Astronomical Union defined the term "planet" for the first time. This definition excluded Pluto, instead adding it as a member of a new category - "dwarf planet" - together with Eris and Ceres. After the reclassification, Pluto was added to the list of minor planets and given the number 134340. A number of scientists continued to hold that Pluto should be classified as a planet.

Oct 3, 2006

North Korea conducts its first nuclear test

North Korea announced its intention to conduct a test on 3rd October, six days prior, and in doing so became the first nation to give warning of its first nuclear test. The blast was estimated to have an explosive force of less than one kiloton, and some radioactive output was detected.

Jun 11, 2007

Apple debuts the iPhone

Released in June 2007, the iPhone is a multimedia-enabled smartphone designed and marketed by Apple. Time magazine named it the invention of the year.

Aug 14, 2007

Multiple suicide bombings kill 796 people in Kahtaniya, northern Iraq

The Yazidi communities bombings occurred at around 8pm local time on 14th August 2007, when four co-ordinated suicide bomb attacks detonated in the Yazidi villages of Kahtaniya and Jazeera, near Mosul. Entire neighbourhoods were flattened by the blasts.

Feb 5, 2008

Tornado across the Southern United States

A major tornado, outbreaks across the Southern United States leaves people at least 58 dead.

Nov 4, 2008

Barack Obama Elected

Barack obama was elected as the president of the United States of America. Barack Obama is the first afro american who was elected as the president of the United States of America

Earthquake near L'Aquila in Italy

JW Marriot and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta

JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta, were hit by separate bombings and killed seven peoples and more than 50 people were injured in this terrorist attack.

Jan 12, 2010

Haiti is struck by a devastating earthquake

A 7.0 magnitude quake occured in Haiti, devastating the nation's capital, Port-Au-Prince. With a death toll of more than 230,000 people.

Jan 25, 2010

Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409

Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 crashes into the Mediterranean Sea shortly after take off from Beirut Rafic Hariri internation airport killing 90 people on board.

Mar 11, 2011

Japan is devastated by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake

On 11th March 2011, a 9.0-magnitude quake and subsequent tsunami hit the east of Japan, killing over 15,000 and leaving another 9,000 missing.

May 2, 2011

The death of Osama Bin Laden

Osama Bin Laden the founder and head of the millitant group al-Qaeda was killed in Pakistan by Navy SEALSs.

Feb 6, 2012

The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II

6th February 2012 marked the 60th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the thrones of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand (as well as the 60th anniversary of her becoming Head of the Commonwealth). Celebrations were held in these countries to mark the occasion.